a dream come true

Handwritten sign for a café event at Upper Room café on February 15 from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, with a drawing of a potted plant and some desserts and drinks on a table.

I’ve always had a deep passion for making coffee and crafting different drinks at home. It’s been a dream of mine to one day open my own café. Recently, my wonderful roommates and I decided to bring that dream to life by starting a pop-up café in our college apartment.

We invited all our friends and members of our church communities to join us for a sweet moment of fellowship. Even though my roommates and I attend different churches, it was incredibly heartwarming to see the two communities come together, connect, and enjoy the cozy café atmosphere we created. It was a truly joyful experience!

Skills:

Graphic Design, ProCreate Drawing, Project Management, Marketing, Barista, Baker, Customer Service

Date:

02/15/2025

The Menu

A pre-order cafe menu titled "Upper Room Cafe" with sections for coffee, tea, hot drinks, and desserts, featuring hand-drawn illustrations of drinks and desserts, and a cartoon character holding a passport and a cup.

Our menu was divided into five categories: Coffee, Tea, Hot Drinks, Ade, and Dessert. The standout sellers were the Black Sesame Latte, Tiramisu Latte, and Passionfruit Sparkling Ade, all original creations I developed myself.

It took a few days of experimenting with recipes to find the perfect balance of ingredients. The Black Sesame Latte was inspired by Tatte's version, which I enjoyed but wanted to improve. I aimed to make it creamier while preserving its rich flavor, and less chunky by using black sesame paste instead of blended seeds.

Beyond the drinks, I also designed the promotional poster: from concept to layout to final artwork, bringing the same creative process I use in my UX design work into a piece that set the tone for the whole café experience.

Illustration of a glass of lemonade with a lemon slice garnish.
Miniature pastry with a strawberry on top, resembling a strawberry-filled croissant or Danish pastry.
A glass filled with a dark soda and ice cubes.
A watercolor illustration of a tall glass of chocolate milkshake topped with chocolate syrup.
Slice of blueberry cheesecake on a white background.

Playlist

Listen to some music and enjoy photos of these lovely people and lovely smiles!

Three young women standing together indoors in front of a wall decorated with photos and artwork.
Three women standing together indoors, smiling at the camera. One woman in the front is holding a plastic cup with a pink and white design.
A clear plastic cup filled with a mango fruit salad, topped with small pieces of mango and some sort of shredded white ingredient, placed on a wooden table next to a green potted plant.
Three women standing in a kitchen and smiling at the camera. One woman on the left is holding a container, the middle woman is holding a glass or jar, and the woman on the right is holding a spoon. There are baked goods and a vase with pink flowers o
Two young women smiling and posing for a photo at an indoor gathering with string lights overhead. One woman is wearing a blue hoodie, and the other woman is wearing a black turtleneck top, holding a drink.
A white plate holding waffle topped with strawberries, chocolate sauce, whipped cream, and powdered sugar. Black plastic fork and knife resting on the plate, on a wooden table.
A woman smiling and holding a plastic cup of bubble tea with tapioca pearls in one hand and a small clear bowl with crushed ice or a dessert in the other. She is wearing a black zip-up jacket, and the background includes a closet with red hangers and
A plate of waffles topped with strawberries and powdered sugar, served with a scoop of ice cream, on a wooden table. Nearby are two cups of beverages, one with a black straw. There are also containers, spoons, and utensils on the table, with a laptop
Two women smiling and posing for a photo in a kitchen, with various desserts and drinks in the foreground on a table.
Group of four smiling people at a casual gathering, holding drinks, with string lights overhead and a wall decorated with photos and a sign in the background.
A young child with dark hair and a woman with glasses sitting at a wooden table in a cozy, rustic setting with wooden walls, enjoying a meal together.
Three young adults standing together indoors against a decorated wall with string lights and colorful artwork. The person on the left is a male with a gray beanie, smiling, wearing a dark jacket. The person in the middle is a female with glasses, smi
A plastic cup with a layered coffee beverage topped with whipped cream and chocolate syrup, with a straw, placed on a wooden table beside a plate of banana slices topped with caramel sauce and crushed nuts, and a black utensil.
A young man smiling while holding a dessert cup in one hand and a plate with a slice of berry cheesecake in the other, in a cozy, decorated room with a floral wall hanging and string lights.
Group of young people playing a card game at a table, with a chandelier and a decorative shelf with teddy bears and candles in the background.
A woman with long black hair smiling and holding a drink, sitting at a wooden table with a laptop, against a wooden-paneled wall decorated with photos.
A group of five young people sitting around a table with potted plants and drinks, indoors near a window with closed blinds.
A cluttered wooden desk with various colorful markers, a small cup with a floral design labeled "nicky," a potted plant, a small animal figurine, and scattered office supplies including paper and pens.
A group of people gathered in a cozy living room decorated with string lights, wall art, and holiday decorations, playing a board game and socializing with drinks.
Three young men sitting at a table playing cards, with drinks and a vintage camera on the table. There are blinds covering a window in the background.
Group of people sitting around a wooden table playing cards and drinking beverages in a room with vertical blinds covering a window.